SANBAG sponsored and participated in a Countywide Vision in Action Workshop on March 19, 2014, along with San Bernardino County and the Building Industry Association (BIA) of Southern California. The BIA subsequently recognized SANBAG for their involvement in the "Countywide Vision in Action" program and for sponsoring the workshop with cities and developers to discuss development processing best practices as part of the Countywide Vision.

Last week, SANBAG's Advocacy Team traveled to Washington DC to advocate for a number of priorities as the House and Senate consider the next transportation reauthorization bill.

Meetings with held with the San Bernardino County delegation members in the House and Senate, Members and staff for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, staff for the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, House Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman Tom Petri, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Vice Chairman Jimmy Duncan, House Railroads Subcommittee Chairman Jeff Denham, and Congressman John Delaney. We were also able to meet with representatives from the Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

The key focus for the meetings was the need for a comprehensive long-term transportation authorization bill which includes separate dedicated freight funding, completion of Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) rule-making associated with the streamlining efforts inserted therein, the importance of keeping funding intact without new extraneous requirements, and highlighted our two pending Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant applications.

SANBAG also raised concerns about equity in managing Buy America requirements between FHWA and FTA to the extent the law allows.

On May 8, 2014, a countywide campaign to get more people involved with giving to charitable organizations will kick off at 7:00 am and run for 24 hours. This event is being supported by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors and implemented by The Community Foundation. During the campaign, people will utilize social media and online methods of contributing to nonprofit organizations that provide services such as childcare, education, food, vocational training, medical services, animal shelters, arts development, and more. Often, philanthropic giving is done in traditional ways by an older population. It is critical that they remain involved in this campaign, as well.

But this new campaign method hopes to introduce the next generation to giving to their community by utilizing popular social media communication vehicles, such as Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Instagram, and others. For sustainability, it is important to start now to develop the next generation of donors. To find out more about this innovative approach, please go to: www.givebigsbcounty.org

At their April 2014 Board meeting, the SANBAG Board of Directors honored the Top Driver and Drivers of Excellence for the Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) Program for 2013.The FSP is a fleet of tow trucks that patrol selected San Bernardino County freeways during peak commute hours to assist stranded motorists.Since 2006, which marked the beginning of the San Bernardino FSP Program, more than 270,000 motorists have benefited from this program.During 2013, the drivers provided assists to more than 31,000 troubled motorists.

The SANBAG Board of Directors approved additional funding for the U.S 395 Segment 2 Widening Project. SANBAG has been working in partnership with the CA Department of Transportation (Caltrans) since 2005 on this Route. Caltrans has provided all necessary preliminary engineering for the project.

This project was divided into Segments 1, 2, and 3 through portions of Hesperia, Victorville, and Adelanto. The middle project, entitled Segment 2, extends from SR-18 northerly to Chamberlaine Way in the City of Adelanto. This segment was selected to be delivered before the other two segments because of the traffic demand imposed on the facility by recent increases from population growth and development in the vicinity. The resulting heavy congestion makes accessing local businesses and services in this area very difficult. This widening project will enhance operational efficiency by providing four continuous travel lanes through this congested area. Approaches to intersections will be improved to provide left tum pockets, dedicated right tum lanes, and signalization.

The total cost of Segment 2 is estimated at $45.8 million. In addition to Measure I dollars, this project has over $6 million in federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds. Caltrans will remain the implementing agency on this Phase and work in consultation with SANBAG on future right-of-way acquisition.

The City of Barstow is partnering with SANBAG and other agencies to bring a long-awaited railroad crossing overpass, or grade separation, to Lenwood Road in south Barstow, west of the I-15 Freeway. The Lenwood Grade Separation Project broke ground on construction on March 21, 2014. This $31 million project was funded by a combination of federal, state, county, City of Barstow, BNSF Railroad, and Measure I funds.

SANBAG's Interstate 10 Express Lane Widening Improvement Project was selected as the recipient of the Federal Highway Administration/Caltrans "Engineering Value Analysis Study of the Year Award" for 2013.

This award recognizes the excellent application of value analysis, which in this case, resulted in a value improvement increase of 25%. All members of the Value Analysis team, under the direction of SANBAG Project Delivery Director Garry Cohoe, were recognized and received a certificate.